Having a mother in law who lives in Brittany means we have got the chance to explore Northern France quite bit over the years. It is great having somewhere to stay that doesn’t cost us anything and I know not everyone has that luxury but accommodation in France is usually pretty cheap anyway. We usually hire a car and travel around quite a lot while we are there as there are just so many beautiful places to see. Northern France is so easy to travel to from the UK using Brittany Ferries so it would be almost criminal not to make the most of it.
Here are some of our favourite places..
Locronan
Locronan is probably the prettiest little village in France that we have visited. It’s one of those places that you could just spend hours taking photos of pretty little windows, shops etc. Everytime we have been we have been to see the gentleman above and had a silhouette done of the kids. He is so talented! Locronan has a gorgeous little town square with shops, Creperie’s and a church that are definitely worth a few hours of your time.
Mont Saint-Michel
You cannot possibly visit Northern France without a visit to Mont Saint-Michel, take a few hours to explore the abbey, museums and the quaint streets. This is one of the most visited places in France having over 3 million visitors per year so expect there to be a good few other tourists around.
Roscoff
Brittany Ferries sail into Roscoff and the old harbour town is a short walk from the ferry port so this makes it the perfect place to have a holiday. Don’t miss the Jardin Exotique as these gardens are truly beautiful. While you are there make sure you take a boat trip to the Île de Batz, which is only a short boat trip away but it is really worth a visit for its stunning scenery and unspoilt beaches.
Dunkirk
Dunkirk is full of amazing history, if you are interested then do visit the Museum Dunkirk which tells the story of the battle and the evacuation of more than 330,000 Allied soldiers of the “Dunkirk pocket” in 9 days. For a panoramic view of Dunkirk make sure you visit The Belfry of Saint Eloi’s Church.
St Malo
St Malo is a historic french port in Brittany, it is a walled city and a popular tourist destination filled with history, amazing food and drink. Not only is St Malo a city but it has beach to enjoy for the kids too! Plage du Sillon is three kilometres of lovely sand which is perfect for families to enjoy. A visit to St Malo most certainly wouldn’t be complete without walking the walls. The circuit is 1.75km so really not too far at all and the views are amazing.
Crozon Peninsula
The Crozon Peninsula is one of our very favourite places to explore and is home to our most favourite beach – Morgat. It is one of the most beautiful beaches I have seen in France and we have spent many days enjoying the sun, sea and sand here. It is also known for its multicoloured sea caves which we never got to explore having small children. Crozon town is also worth a visit for its many shops, restaurants and market.
Brest
We’ve explored Brest quite a bit over the years, Its another French city that has so much to offer; shops, museums, beach and the kids favourite part is always a trip to Oceanopolis which is always a great day out. Driving over the Pont de l’Iroise is something they always love to do too!
Rouen
Rouen is a stunning place to explore, cobbled streets and half timbered buildings create many photo opportunities while there always seems to be so much going on. The old market square is most certainly worth visiting and apparently this is where Joan of Arc was burnt alive in 1431! And of course it would be a crime to visit with seeing the absolutely stunning Cathédrale Notre-Dame which is one of the largest and most impressive Gothic cathedrals in France.
Have you any favourite places in Northern France? We’d love to hear about them if you have for our next trip. Make sure you leave a comment to tell us about them 🙂
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